Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Our sweet Sara...



She burst onto the blogging scene with that cute white pup of hers (Riley) as her avatar.  I discovered she had started blogging at the same point as I had.  She was very witty, had such a way with words, and loved God with all her heart.

Our friendship was immediate and went deep very quickly.  Our connection grew as we shared stories from our past, or the difficulty in the day we had, or how funny Riley looked in his Halloween costumes.  And sometimes she'd take a blogging break when her breathing was bad and she was having pain and difficulty moving around.  But then she'd bounce back and I would get so excited to see that smiling face show up and be so relieved she was doing better again.  But she underplayed it all never wanting us to worry about her.

In the three years I have known her she taught me about grace in the face of illness.  She told me to always chose joy and to live with intention.  She sent me a handcrafted canvas with the words "It not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived. "  I think I treasure it most because it describes exactly the kind of person she is.

For someone who spent her days confined inside her condo due to her illness, Sara lived a BIG life, and scattered much.  She scattered faith, love, joy, encouragement, and wit.  For not having ever met her in person, she had a huge influence on me and my life.  I'm so glad I told her.  And recently too.  She wrote to me after I returned home from the hospital after the mastectomy and was never shy about telling you how much you meant to her.  So I told her how she has mentored me, and that I adored her and loved her and how much she meant to me.

Then last week my gratitude journal went missing.  And what I haven't shared about it, is that Sara sent it to me one Christmas for a surprise present.  So I have been doubly sad in having it drop from my sight.  I'll never know if it was meant as a sign or not.

It turns out the journal isn't the only thing missing...

Sara is also leaving us.

Today, Sara surrounded by her family, and hospice,  is making her heavenly journey homeward, as my heart is both rejoicing and breaking at the same time.  I don't think any of us could have known this last blog hiatus would be the last hiatus.  So the news has been hard to digest and process.  But what I do know is she will soon be with Our Father, and reunited with her father, and able to breathe deeply, sing loudly,  and do all the things her body no longer allowed her to do here on earth.

I miss her already.  I'm praying her home, will you help me?

33 comments:

  1. I just came from her site. Tears fall even though I didn't know her. What gifts of hope and joy and love she left for all of us.

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  2. Oh Vicky, I need to know more about her. She is so beautiful. Her eyes so bright. Is she married? Children? Where does she live? Her bog? I'm so sorry for you but also everyone who knew and loved her. Oh Lord, please take care of her, surround her with her loved ones who have gone before her. Oh, Vicky.....I am so sorry. Can you drink the booster?? I can run some over. Xxxooo barb

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  3. Barb, I will tell you all about her sometime, or click the link to Gitz on the right hand side of my blog to go to her blog. I am faithfully drinking my boosters every day :) Thank you friend!

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  4. Vicky...I don't know how God knows who we need when we need them, but He knew you needed Sara...and I'm sure that Sara needed you, as well. I didn't know her...but after I read what you wrote about her, I feel an immediate bond with her through you. I am so very sorry to hear that your dear friend will be leaving this Earthly home. I know that you will miss her beyond measure. I cried as I read what you lovingly wrote about her. Yes, I will pray for her heavenly homegoing....I will pray for her family and for you.
    I love you, Vicky.
    Jackie

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  5. Thank you Jackie, that brings me such comfort! I love you too!

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  6. Susan, she has that effect on us :) Thank you for coming here friend- hugs to you...

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  7. oh so sad .........
    She looks so very young.
    And losing her journal must be sad for you as well
    Its a small thing that becomes very meaningful quickly.
    I am at a loss here as to what to say.
    Our prayers are of course with her.

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  8. I too was shocked when I logged on to Facebook this afternoon and clicked the link to her blog. I never thought it would be news such as this. I am sad that her family is going to miss her so much, as well as those of us who knew her through her blog. But, I am also rejoicing in that she will be healed, healthy and be with her Dad again. Since I heard the news I have been praying for her and her family too.

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  9. I'm so sorry to hear this Vicky. I did not know Sara, but your post in palpable evidence of how much she meant to you and so many others - truly a beautiful tribute.

    Take care of you while you mourn her.

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  10. Oh wow, Vicky. I'm going to go straight over there to visit her site. She is absolutely beautiful, and you are a beautiful friend. I know I am going to love her already because you loved her first. Even though her voice is trailing off now (so sadly and unfairly...), she has left us her words. What a profound gift. THANK YOU for pointing the way to her for us. And thanks for being you, that you would scatter so passionately and widely as you do.

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  11. Praying her home. I love that<3 but oh, how she'll be missed...

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  12. Oh, Vicky, I am praying for her and for you and her many loved ones...

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  13. Thanks for filling us in on Sara...what a neat person. I will certainly add her to my prayers.

    I'm thinking of you too.

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  14. What a story, both sad and beautiful at the same time. I'm sorry you lost a friend, from your description, she was a wonderful lady.

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  15. It was through Sara's blog that I was led to yours, and I have been grateful for that ever since. Our world has lost a beautiful woman. It is awe inspiring to think that she will soon be Home. Now, Friend, rest and take care of yourself. You, too, hold the hearts and prayers of many who have come to care for you through cyber grace.

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  16. Vicky - I barely knew Sara and oh what God has done in that time. I hate that I will not feel the nearness of her lovely soul here - the way the Lord graced my life with hers at a time He was revealing so much of Himself to me.

    Perhaps it seems small to think about finding the journal but I am praying that you will...her life was not small after all but it is something small she meant for you to have.

    Marla

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  17. Praying her home too and thinking of you, feeling your loss.

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  18. It was so bittersweet to read the latest post on Sara's blog today. I rejoice in knowing that she will soon have a healthy body, join her dad, and meet Jesus face-to-face. But I'm also shedding some tears over the impending loss of a dear sister in the faith. I came acros her blog about a year ago when a close friend of mine was diagnosed with AS, and I just wanted to learn more about the disease. Her posts were so amazing that I kept on reading and commenting. What a gifted writer she is! When she did the fundraiser for sweet Emma, I knew that I had to get a beautiful Sara canvas, as well. It has the verse, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". So, today I will CHOOSE JOY! And I will pray for Sara's friends and family at this heartbreaking time, that they will be strengthened and upheld in His perfect comfort and peace that passes all human understanding.

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  19. Vicky-
    I found your site after I started reading Sara's. I met Sara a few times when she was in college and a mututal friend led me to her site. She has touched my heart in many ways, along with MANY other hearts! I pray for you tonight as I can tell how much sweet Sara has meant to you. You have also touched my heart with your journey. Peace be with you!
    Cari in Iowa

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  20. Vicky, my heart is so filled with shock and heaviness at your news. I can't thank you enough for thinking to leave me a Facebook message. It's the only place I am these days for connection. I cannot sit at my blogging computer and this laptop isn't set up to blog.

    I just can't believe how sudden this seems. I'm sort of speechless. It confirms to me yet one more time how we can hide behind our words and write as if we are handling everything. I KNEW Sara was sick and faced so MANY challenges. I did NOT know that she walked through the valley of the shadow of death. My biggest concern for her was how she would survive if anything happened to her precious Riley. I never wanted her to have to face that day. I had no idea it would be Riley left behind. God love her (I know He does SO MUCH) and God be with her. I so wish I could have said good-bye to her.

    My life was also impacted by her sharing and her encouragement and her indomitable spirit. She will be free soon from the fetters and cares of this world but we will be poorer for her passing. I'm so sad.......

    I'm sorry for you to be losing her, Vicky. I know she loved you so much. I'm happy for her to be with her dad (and yours), and for her to be able to do all the things denied her on this earth. I wish you and I could talk on the phone. I'll send you my number through Facebook but I also realize you are under enormous stress and huge challenges. NEVER feel as though you must call me. What I really feel is the need to hug each other and share this loss together. God bless you, sweet friend, and I know Sara will still be praying for you, as will I.

    I love you.

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  21. I'm joining you to pray her home today. My heart is aching so hugely, knowing that we won't get to read her words and learn from her anymore. I can't remember how I found her blog, but it came at a time when things were super dark for me. I was in the throes of grief from losing a dear friend and that loss caused a domino effect of losses that left me with very little community. I felt so alone. And Sara, in her little apartment also rather alone, helped me see Jesus and joy and courage and so much more. She became my teacher. I don't feel smart enough to do the next thing without her, even though I know that the right answer is that Jesus is with me and He is all I need. But Sara was Jesus-in-skin to me through her words, and I'm going to miss that.

    I'm so homesick now. I hope Jesus comes back soon. We all want to be home - together. I want Sara to teach me art when we get there.

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  22. Thank you for sharing that Vicky. Any time I read a "Sara post", it encouraged me and I could always relate to it in some way. I have to say I'm glad she will be free of all she's lived with...sad for us but oh the joy for her!

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  23. i have been moved to tears several times already today as i've contemplated life without sara. i'm not sad because she's going Home--what SWEET release it'll be for her to be in her new body with her Lord and her Dad. i'm just overcome by the loss of her genuine, transparent, holy, humble, joyful, gentle self. how she will be missed! i'm already hoping that the family will publish a book of her writings.

    i know this is harder for you than it is for me, but if it helps to know that someone understands, then allow me to say that i do. completely. i also think this means that you, me and robin ought to meet.

    hugs, dearie.

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  24. Vicky-
    It was through Sara's blog that I found yours, which I now faithfully follow. I just read hers right before I came to yours, and tears are flowing... I, too, never met her, but she brought so much into my life, right when I needed it. Her faith is absolute...and now she gets to go home. I pray for her journey, as well as yours.
    Karen

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  25. Vicky, there are just some people who give everything and more . . . and Sara was one of those angels who did just that. From all the comments on her blog, here, and all over blogland, NO ONE went away from her unchanged. That includes me. I pray for all of us, that we will pick up that torch she leaves behind and continue to give all we hve within ourselves to others around us! She would smile, and her eyes would light up, and our world would be changed forever!

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  26. I am so, so sorry for you and your friend, Vicky.

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  27. praying with you... my heart, my fleshly heart wants to complain and groan at the loss of this dear lady of God, but then I see her word, "PRAISE" and I think, how can I do anything other than Praise God for this precious child of His with a heart so true to 'Him who loved us and will keep us' ... she is ever close to Him, our precious Jesus, who suffered and died for us. Sara has been faithful, obedient, and a great encouragement for us all to press on... no matter what.
    I will praise God for Sara and for the loving arms that will carry her Home ...

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  28. Dearest Vicky,
    i just "met" your Sara today via her blog, and i'm already missing her. Cannot imagine what you or Shannon or any of her other friends and family are going though right now.
    BUT, we will see Sara again! i look forward to getting to meet her face to face. Praying for you and all who love Sara.

    Blessings,
    Alycia A.

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  29. Oh Vicky - my heart breaks for you all over again. I'm so sorry. What a beautiful soul, just like you. You are, truly, soul mates.

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  30. "praying her home"... so very beautiful.
    hope your infection clears quickly and that your heart beats stronger as you deal with the coming days.
    patty@ findingserendipity.com

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  31. Vicki,
    This is an absolutely beautiful post! Thank you so much for this. She was an incredible example.
    She has taught me so much about how to face my illness as well and how to do it gracefully. It's such a mix of emotions. I've never grieved so much, yet ached for someone to finally be home where they will be able to be at ease and no longer in pain.
    I'm overwhelmed at the community that surrounded her. How this must make Jesus smile. Thank you for this post and being so dear to her. Your story is one of such beauty as well. Thank you for blessing me.

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  32. I've been following Sara's blog since the beginning and I am in tears over this. I had no idea this hiatus would be the last hiatus. Sara will finally be free from pain, to sing again, to run again, to be with her dad and to be with Our Father. How can I be sad when she has been so brave, so encouraging to all of us.

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  33. My heart is sad for us to lose Sara here but I know that she is dancing in heaven with joy now...

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